Introduction
In an extensive history of colonization, not only the rights of indigenous peoples and slaves were violated. A striking example is a conquest of North America by the British colonists, where one of the acute problems was the oppression of white settlers suppressed by the metropolis. Elite planters, industrialists, and farmers entered foreign markets with their products and were in great demand. The elite and middle-class colonists, who shifted into “locals”, started obtaining big interests of their own, which did not coincide with the intentions of the British government. The elite colonists were faced with the question of protecting their rights and ending their dependence on the British crown. The conflict has divided the population into two opposing groups of Patriots and Loyalists, whose actions had much controversial civic and ethical meanings. In the name of the principles, the Patriots created the Articles of Confederation, which demonstrated being too limited to unite the states, and gave way to a more centralized Constitution.
Elite Colonists and Their Goals
Wealthy farmers, merchants, and southern plantation owners were considered elite colonists. They had the closest connection with the British Empire and were profoundly impacted by it in all regards, including lifestyle, Maison, and business politics. Some of them did not see the necessity to protest: many elite colonists were appointed by the crown itself, had prominent British relatives, and therefore joined the Loyalists. However, some were significantly worried about increasing customs charges, continuous taxes, and the inability to conduct the wholesome civic engagement. This assembly joined the so-called Patriots and began an active campaign against the imposed British settlements. The main intention of this movement was to take part in determining the arrangement and characteristics of taxation and the ways of their collecting and spending. In fact, they only required the same rights as the residents of England.
The Civil and Ethical Side of the Elite Colonists Who Joined the Patriots
Elite colonists started anti-British demonstrations, causing havoc and massive oppression of people loyal to the crown. The devastation struck even the poor, who did not fully assume what was happening and wanted to persist as nonpartisan. In Boston, an enthusiastic crowd looted the lieutenant governor’s estate and destroyed much of the infrastructure. The colonies led by the educated elite adopted a statement in which they declared their judgments on rights and freedoms. Therefore, the civic side of this movement remains clear, although ethics remains in question. The leaders of the liberal elite were themselves wealthy planters with hundreds of slaves and dependent farmers. This fact made the war of independence rather ambiguous and one-sided. Numerous imprecise intentions seriously hindered ultimate national unification and the creation of an original nation under the auspices of equality. Although the struggle was fought for overall independence, it was persisted mainly between the elites.
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence severed the states from the mandate of the metropolis and declared themselves the United States of America. The Articles of Confederation were the first written attempt at the Constitution. Written in 1777 and arising from the urgency of wartime, its progress was slowed by the precarious status of the central government and extensive claims from states. According to these Articles, 13 states remained sovereign, and Congress acted as the ultimate resort to resolve all disputes. However, Congress was not strong enough to implement laws and control taxes. The colonists gained relative freedom but could not achieve the ultimate goal due to disconnection. Therefore, it was decided to create a more centralized Constitution with an effective division of power into executive, legislative and judicial. Congress was now to consist of two chambers: The Senate and representatives for more all-inclusive decision-making. The new system promised the long-awaited equality, independence, and freedom of action, which were the goals of elite colonists.
Conclusion
Many representatives of the elite colonists perceived the new Constitution as a serious limitation of their actions and refused to sign it. They desired freedom but also participation and ultimate involvement in everything that happens. It took several years to expand the document and consolidate the Bill of Rights, consisting of 10 significant amendments, which responded to the requests of all participants. The first corrections were made by James Madison in 1789, for which he was named the Father of the Constitution. The changes guaranteed freedom of speech, religion, press, protection from unjustified arrests, and so on. In 1790, the last state of Rhode Island signed a constitution, and the formation of the new government was finally fully completed. The country has significantly developed the ruling elite, made it more inclusive, and legalized civil rights and individual freedoms. Speaking of the elite colonists: their goals also were achieved. They continued to maintain a vital role in the Senate and could constrain what was occurring in the country.
Bibliography
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The Declaration of Independence. National Archives. Web.
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The Bill of Rights. National Archives. Web.
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